Beacon



Oct. 10, 1933. A FgHsE 1,930,085

BEACON Filed Feb. 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Adolf Fehse,

ATTORNEY Oct. 10, 1933. FEHsE I 1,930,085

BEACON filed Feb. 20. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AdolF Rahse, BY

ArroRNY Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES BEACON Adolf Fehse, Berlin, Germany, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 20, 1931, Serial No. 517,259, and-in Germany April 2, 1930 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to beacons and more particularly the invention relates to beacons provided with tube lamps as light sources.

' The object of the invention is to provide a E beacon of the above type in which each of the light sources are clearly visible from all directions. A further object of the invention. is to provide a beacon of compact dimensions and of unitary structure. Still further objects will 'be to apparent from the following particular description and from the annexed claims.

In accordance with these objects the new and novel beacon of the present invention consists of a metal case containing the auxiliary apparatus for the tube lamps and a columnar glass case fastened to said metal case and housing the tube lamps. Said tube lamps are electric discharge devices of the positive column type and are arranged in the glass case in such a manner that the luminous positive column of each lamp is visible in all directions.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification an embodiment of the invention is shown for purposes of disclosure in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the new and novel beacon the metal case thereof being shown in P Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of the glass case showing in detail the holding and supporting means of the tube lamps and Fig. 3 is a top view of a clamp for the socket of said tube lamps.

Like numbers denote like parts in all views of the device.

Referring to the drawings the new and novel beacon consists of a sheet metal case-or box 1 containing the auxiliary apparatus, such as the transformers for the tube lamps 3, 4, said lamps being electric discharge devices of the positive colunm type. Glass case 2 is fastened to said metal case 1 and has a columnar shape as shown. Said lamps 3, 4 are arranged in said housing 1 in such manner that their luminous positive columns cross each other with a space between them, so that the two light columns are visible from any direction. v 1

The apparatus for supporting said lamps 3, 4, in position in said glass housing 4 consists of a metal rod 5 fastened to and extending up from said metal case 1. Metal tube 6 encloses said rod 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is easily movable thereon. At the top and bottom partsof said tube 6 is clamped holders '1, the arms 8 of which have clamps 9 supporting arms 10. Each of said arms 10 have at one of their ends a V shaped clamp 11 for the sockets 12 of the light tubes 3, 4 as shown in Fig. 3. Said clamp 11 has two butterfly nuts 13. A flexible metal strip 14, such as a copper strip, surrounds the socket parts 12 of said tubes 3, 4 and is held in position by said nuts 13. Said strip 14 has a layer of heat insulation material 15 such as asbestos on the inner surface thereofnext to socket parts 12. .The lamps 3 are thus quickly and easily introduced into or removed from the clamping member 11,, 13, and 14 by adjusting nut 13 and pulling or pushing strip 14.

Suitable ventilating openings 16 are provided at the bottom of glass case 2 as shown in Fig. 2, and an additional opening, notshown, is provided between the part of cover 17 lapping over the sides of case 1 and case 1 itself.

The arrangement of the main supporting clamp 7 on the tube 6 makes it possible to remove the tube lamps and the entire supporting structure therefor out of said case 2 by loosening the electrical connections of said lamps and lifting tube 6.

The arrangement of the tube lamps 3, 4 in the ,form of a cross is advantageous as both the luminous positive columns of said lamps 3, 4 are visible in all directions.

It will be obvious that numerous substitutions, modifications, and changes in the form and details of the device may be made by those sln'lled in the art without departure from the broad spirit and scope of the invention, for example,

a single tube shaped in the form of a cross may be used in place of the two crossed tubes shown in the drawings or more than two lamps may be used in said case 2.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a beacon, a light source, a columnar housing therefor, supporting apparatus for said light source in said housing, a housing for the operating apparatus of said light source, said columnar housing being mounted on said ap-' paratus housing and said supporting apparatus comprising a rod permanently attached to the operating apparatus housing and extendingalong the longitudinal axis of said columnar housing and a hollow cylinder concentric with said rod and movable thereon, said lamps being attached 135 to said cylinder to form a unitary structure therewith.

2. In a beacon, a light source, a columnar housing therefor, supporting apparatus for said 'light source in said housing, a housing for the operating apparatus of said light source, said columnar housing being mounted on said apparatus housing, said light source being two tube lamps placed in the form of a cross and said supporting apparatus comprising a rod permanently attached to the operating apparatus housing and extending along the longitudinal axis of said columnar housing and a hollow cylinder concentric with said rod and movable thereon, said lamps being attached to said cylinder to form a unitary structure therewith.

3. In a beacon, a light source, a columnar housing therefor, an easily removable supporting apparatus for said light source in said housing,

a housing for the operating apparatus of said light source, said columnar housing being mounted on said apparatus housing, said light source being two or more tube lamps placed in the form of a cross and said supporting apparatus comprising a rod permanently attached to the operating apparatus housing and extending along the longitudinal axis of said columnar housing and a hollow cylinder concentric with said rod and movable thereon, said lamps being attached to said cylinder to form a unitary structure therewith.

ADOLF FEHSE. 

